Knee Board decisions

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, primarily his migraine headaches, have rendered him unable to secure and follow substantially gainful employment. The Board finds that the Veteran is precluded from obtaining or maintaining any gainful occupation due solely to these service-connected conditions.

The Veteran's claims of service connection for sleep apnea, lumbosacral strain and degenerative arthritis of the lumbosacral spine were granted. The claim for bilateral hip disability is remanded due to insufficient evidence. The claim for bilateral knee disability is also remanded.

The Board has remanded the claims of service connection for various ankle and foot disorders, as well as a right knee disorder due to inadequate compliance with prior remand directives.

The Board has granted service connection for low back pain with arthritis, but denied service connection for right and left knee disabilities, pitting edema of the RLE, and pitting edema of the LLE.,The Veteran's current lower extremity pitting edema is not considered secondary to his claimed knee disabilities.

The Board has granted service connection for right and left knee osteoarthritis, finding that the Veteran's current conditions are related to his military service.

The Veteran's left knee patellofemoral syndrome is currently rated at 10 percent, and his right knee patellofemoral syndrome is also rated at 10 percent. The Veteran was granted a separate 10 percent rating for left knee instability effective April 1, 2017.,Prior to January 16, 2017, the Veteran's left knee instability was rated as 10 percent.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for hepatitis C and bilateral knee conditions have been reopened due to the introduction of new and material evidence. However, both claims remain denied as there is no current diagnosis of hepatitis C or a link between the claimed conditions and active duty service.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's current left knee disability is related to his active duty service, and thus grants the claim for service connection.

The Veteran's osteoarthritis of the bilateral knees is related to service and has been granted as a result.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for right knee, left knee, low back, and bilateral pes planus disabilities. The evidence does not support a finding that these conditions began during active service or are otherwise related to service.

The Board has remanded the case due to inadequate development and a need for an updated VA examination regarding the severity of the Veteran's service-connected left knee condition.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded due to the need for additional medical examinations and development of his claims. The issues include seeking increased evaluations for service-connected left knee, left ankle, right shoulder, and radiculopathy disabilities, as well as seeking service connection for an acquired psychiatric disability.

The Veteran's bilateral below-the-knee amputations are denied as compensation under 38 U.S.C. § 1151 because the proximate cause of his additional disability was not due to VA's negligence or fault.

The Board dismissed the Veteran's appeals for effective dates prior to September 23, 1997 and ratings for his service-connected conditions.

The Veteran's appeals for increased ratings and service connection were denied. The appeal was also remanded for additional development.

The Board has decided to remand the Veteran's claims for service connection due to incomplete records and need for further development, including obtaining additional medical opinions.

The Veteran's claims for service connection have been reopened, but the Board has determined that additional development is needed to determine if these conditions are related to his military service.,The Veteran's claims for service connection remain in remand status and require further examination and opinion regarding their etiology.

The Veteran's claim for a compensable rating of PFB with scarring from May 23, 2012 to May 17, 2018 was granted. The issue remains on appeal as the RO declined reopening his claims for service connection for hypertension and bilateral knee condition.

The Board has determined that the current right knee disability may be related to service, specifically a March 5, 2000 injury during reserve training. However, further examination and opinion are needed to determine if this is the case.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's bilateral foot and knee disabilities did not incur during active service, were not caused by active service, and are not related to any service-connected disability. As a result, the claims for these conditions have been denied.